Kathleen Ocampo
The traditional Book Buyback will occur May 22 to June 3, a month after the YouTube and MySpace release of the “Books and Beyond” music video produced by the Pierce College Bookstore.The rap song was written and performed by Pierce student Cardel Jackson, who goes by the stage name of J Stylez 285. The video was shot and edited by Michael Matsumoto, a graduate of Pierce with an associate degree in automotive service technology and full-time worker at the Bookstore.”We want to reach out to students in a genuine way,” said Greg Osweiler, Bookstore manager, adding that the store’s YouTube and MySpace accounts are their way of reaching out to students “in their world.” Money given back to the students through the buyback went up by 41 percent by the end of the Fall 2007 semester, compared to the Spring Buyback of the same year. The amount came to $155,000, according to Osweiler.He also said that the goal to return $175,000 through the buyback by the end of this semester, nearly a 13 percent increase, seems achievable.LEADING THE DISTRICTDelighted with achievement, Osweiler took the initiative to impart keys to a successful buyback to all the bookstore managers in the Los Angeles Community College District.”They have buybacks (too), they just don’t do it like we do,” he said. “So, we’re trying to take a lead in this.”The seminar took place in the Student Community Center May 2. In addition to all district bookstore managers, three administrations’ vice presidents and the district director of accounting and internal audit also attended. THE REAL DEALBut the Book Buyback isn’t that popular among students yet.”We’re attacked all the time, but understandably so,” Osweiler said about some issues that they are facing.Some students may think they are being ripped off because they’re given a small amount of money for books that they paid a lot for. The reasons for this are:-The book that they’re selling isn’t going to be used the next semester and it’s not on the Bookstore’s list of guaranteed buyback. It can, however, be bought by a wholesaler who buys selected books that aren’t bought by the Bookstore. -There is no guarantee, however, that the wholesaler will purchase the book. Even if they do, they can’t afford to pay as much as the Bookstore, which is 50 percent of the new book price, and would only give around five to 30 percent of the book price.Why does a new book cost so much? Here are a few reasons.-The instructor doesn’t turn in his or her request for the book on time. The order might be late, and the shipping might have become more expensive. -Edition lives are shorter, having an average of two to three years. -Publishers raise prices approximately two times a year because, the materials for the book are getting more expensive.-And, ironically, the Book Buyback itself causes cost increases. If a lot of people buy used books, the publishers will have to make up for the lost money by adding to the price of the new books.How are students going to afford textbooks?”Students now are saving more on half.com,” said Christian Marfil-Amatulli, the newly elected Associated Students Organization president.Osweiler said the downside of that is sites like that don’t always have stock.”No convenience,” he said. “No guarantee.”NOT THE END OF THE ROAD”We’re addressing the sticker-shock issue. We are fully aware and we’re not ignoring it,” Osweiler said. “In the end, there are things we can do to alleviate this.”The number of instructors who submit their requisitions on time is slightly improving. The Bookstore hosts a pizza party for the first department that submits a complete requisition before or on the deadline. They are also giving away two iPod Touch units through raffle and two $500 scholarship funds through the Financial Aid Office.Also, the Bookstore will be continuing to organize book fairs in the future to make the instructors aware of book prices.Plans to improve student communication through the ASO are being arranged between Osweiler and Amatulli, who has ideas of his own as well, including teaming up with the library for the return of the previously unsuccessful book rental program. “I think it didn’t work a year ago at Pierce because there weren’t enough books,” Amatulli said. “Also, the other schools in California that did this worked with the library, like borrowing the book and returning it at the end of the semester.”BUYBACKA list of the guaranteed books for the Buyback will be posted outside the Bookstore and on the Bookstore Web site soon. The Bookstore will not buy any book that has water damage, mold and/or torn out pages. They will also reject books that aren’t going to be used next semester and are not being bought by the wholesaler. Completed workbooks will also not be accepted.More information is available at http://www.piercecollege.edu/student/bookstore.